In The News

Belfast and Derry rappers Kneecap have been in the news for many things in the past year: they took a case against the previous UK government for intervening to block an arts grant; they led a boycott at South By Southwest in Texas over the festival sponsor's links to the Gaza bombardment; they played Glastonbury, released their debut album, Fine Art, and their debut feature film, Kneecap, is about to hit cinemas after an award-winning outing at the Sundance Film Festival. They arrived to that event in a jeep designed to look like a PSNI vehicle. Una Mullally has been following Kneecap since they were an underground act. She says their film “will be a landmark moment for the Irish language, Irish cinema, and Irish music”.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April, Simon Harris became Taoiseach - today he is 100 days in office. It’s a milestone beloved of political commentators as a yardstick to measure achievements, assess style and predict what might come.The “first 100 days” political metric originated in the US but as Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan Jones says, Harris, the media savvy, PR aware, “TikTok Taoiseach” will be all to aware of the date in his very busy calendar.So what have been his achievements? What has he kicked to touch as a general election looms on the horizon? And has he changed the mood in Government?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garda representatives say officers were left potentially exposed "to extremely volatile and dangerous conditions" in Coolock in north Dublin on Monday night. A long-running sit-in protest at a factory due to be converted to asylum seeker accommodation turned violent after a confrontation with up to 200 gardai. 21 people have since been charged in court. Irish Times security and crime editor, Conor Lally, was an eyewitness to the disturbances. He says 'fast gas' canisters and kerbing were among the missiles thrown at gardai, and there's mounting alarm within the force at a 'growing, complex and volatile' security threat posed by those exploiting immigration fears. This episode contains some brief strong language.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday evening, in the small American town of Butlers in Pennsylvania, former president Donald Trump narrowly escaped death after a bullet grazed his head during a rally speech.The horrifying assassination attempt, which Trump escaped with only superficial issues, sent shock waves across an already deeply divided United States. One Trump supporter lost his life in the attack, and several others were injured.What do we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who tried to shoot the former president?How will Saturday’s shooting impact the November presidential election and could it bolster support for the Trump campaign? And how much did the divisive and extreme rhetoric on both sides of the political divide contribute to Saturday’s shooting?Today, on In The News, could the bullet that grazed the head of Donald Trump fire him back to the White House?Irish Times Washington Correspondent Keith Duggan discusses the assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to property website MyHome.ie, house asking prices rose by 7.3 per cent year on year in the second quarter, the fastest pace of growth recorded in two years.And buyers report that the price they actually pay often way exceeds the original asking price as many buyers chase too few properties so that percentage rise is likely to be an underestimation.This year the Government is spending more than €8 billion to address the housing crisis and inflation is running at 1.5 per cent – so why are prices not coming down? Economics columnist Cliff Taylor explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross O'Carroll Kelly creator, Paul Howard, decided to get a basset hound because Columbo - the iconic tv detective - had one. It's definitely not the soundest of decisions on which to embark on dog ownership, but Humphrey went on to become Howard's constant companion for the next 13 years. His death in May hit the writer hard. He's experienced bereavement many times but losing Humphrey was different, leaving him to wonder how long you're allowed to grieve an animal. Since publishing a tribute to his comical canine in The Irish Times, there's been an outpouring of sympathy with many owners sharing their experience of pet grief. In this episode, Paul Howard chats fondly about his stubborn, loveable, "bendy-bus of a dog."Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast discusses the dire consequences of the civil war in Sudan, the challenges faced by migrants seeking refuge in Europe, and the lack of media coverage on the humanitarian crisis. It sheds light on the uncertain future of Sudan and the efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country.

The new transport plan for Dublin is due to be implemented in August. It aims to stop drivers using the city centre as a rat-run to get to other destinations. Even though it was agreed last April by Dublin City Council after lengthy consultation, last minute changes have been made to certain elements of the plan and there are now calls to delay its introduction. On Monday, a protest was held outside Dublin City Hall calling on the council to bring in the plan on time and as agreed .   So why has opposition emerged now? Who is objecting and who will win?  Dublin editor Olivia Kelly has followed the twists and turns in what should have been a simple plan to ease congestion in the capital.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday evening, France witnessed one of the biggest surprises in the country’s electoral history when the recently formed left-wing alliance won the highest number of seats in the election, dealing a surprise blow to Marine Le Pen’s far right National Rally.The shock result followed a week of tactical voting to hold back a surge in support for the anti-immigrant National Rally, led by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella under the wing of Le Pen.Le Pen’s party had come out on top in last week’s first round of electoral voting and appeared on track to secure the largest number of seats in parliament, if not an outright majority However, it was the leftist New Popular Front who emerged as the dominant force in the second round of legislative electoral voting.But with the French parliament now split into three blocks and the leftist New Popular Front falling far short of the majority it needs to lead the government, the future of French politics is shrouded in confusion and uncertainty.Irish Times Europe correspondent Jack Power joins the podcast to discuss the implications of the French legislative election results.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s In the News podcast we look at a new report that reveals the shocking health problems affecting children who spend years spent living in emergency accommodation. In May there were 4,316 homeless children in the State, living in a range of emergency accommodation types, from B&Bs to family hubs, often in overcrowded conditions – an entire family sharing one small room, for example – or without adequate cooking facilities.At the Lynn Clinic in Temple Street children’s hospital in Dublin, Dr Aoibheann Walsh is seeing malnutrition effects more common in developing countries, such as rickets, anaemia, faltering growth and extreme tooth-decay, and skin “infestations” like scabies.Kitty Holland, Irish Times social affairs correspondent, has visited the clinic and talked to some parents about the reality of child homelessness and the devastating impact on a growing group of children.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.